Moshkito
Hi,
 
I don't know music intimately like you folks do, but one of the bands that was best at changing times and still continuing, in my book, was Amon Duul 2. Another band that was very tough on time changes and combinations was Nektar in their best period.
 
I don't see it as a big deal, I just see it as the fact that rock/pop musicians are not advanced enough to play around with other things that have been a part of music history since the beginning of the 20th century. Even Terry Riley, had several things going at the same time, many of them using different time elements, albeit I thought they were mathematically matched to make it easier on the ear. Guru Guru in the early days with Ax Gernrich was also a terrific off the cuff time and such, and Mani Neumeier used to say that he never plays with the bass guitar ... he only plays with and against the guitarist ... and you could see that again when he toured with that Japanese thrash band!
 
I just think that (at times) we're too concerned with intellectualizing something that is not particularly worth discussing within a true/meaningful musical context ... but I will accept that I do not know music as far as you guys do from a playing standpoint!
 
 

I think you're probably reading too much into it. It's really quite simple - there clearly ARE rock/pop musicians who are advanced enough to play around with sophisticated musical ideas, and their genius is in writing technically sophisticated music which is accessible to the masses. As much as I love esoteric musicians, I don't think that many of them have the talent to turn their virtuosity into something which is both "popular" sounding and musically advanced.

I liked Tool's Schism as an example of a complex rhythmic pattern with a melody that works well with the changes. It has an ethereal quality that seems to float over the complexity of the drum/bass lines. Zepplin had some great changing meter moments due largely to Bonham's ability to create a groove rather than just play a part. Soundgarden used some unusual tuning to create the desired mood and feel. Prog rock bands obviously live on complex time signatures and odd chord choices. Unfortunately, the melodic quality sometimes suffers as a result. There are a lot of bands with technical proficiency in complex arrangements and timing, but there's an art to making it seem melodic and effortless. 

sharke

I think you're probably reading too much into it. It's really quite simple - there clearly ARE rock/pop musicians who are advanced enough to play around with sophisticated musical ideas, and their genius is in writing technically sophisticated music which is accessible to the masses. As much as I love esoteric musicians, I don't think that many of them have the talent to turn their virtuosity into something which is both "popular" sounding and musically advanced.

Yep, Steely Dan are masters of it. From 'The Royal Scam' onwards, that's some of the most sophisticated 'popular' music ever (or so far). Elvis Costello came close on occasion though, so did Squeeze.

UbiquitousBubba
 Prog rock bands obviously live on complex time signatures and odd chord choices. Unfortunately, the melodic quality sometimes suffers as a result. There are a lot of bands with technical proficiency in complex arrangements and timing, but there's an art to making it seem melodic and effortless. 

Here's one that I think fits the bill;
 

I was happy to see Nirvana mentioned. Kurt's poppier stuff was definitely quirky (of course) while being "accessible".
 
I think Townsend was quite good at this and an early influence for later artists. He however did it from a musically analytical background whereas Kurt more or less just played what felt right without really thinking it out.
 
It's funny hearing about how he came up with lyrics too. He chalked it up to laziness. He'd have a song together but was dragging his ass on lyrics so would just pull dumb crap out of his butt that fit the music. Everyone tries to find some deep meaning to it but it really is mostly just dumb stuff that fit in the groove. It does show a naturally artistic heart though if that's just his brainfarts.

How about the Police and Message In A Bottle?

Not much of a Sting fanatic but he (and the Police) were very good with the appealing progressional quirkiness. Good call.

Beepster
so would just pull dumb crap out of his butt that fit the music. Everyone tries to find some deep meaning to it but it really is mostly just dumb stuff that fit in the groove. It does show a naturally artistic heart though if that's just his brainfarts.

Can you say Michael Stipe?

Beepster
Not much of a Sting fanatic but he (and the Police) were very good with the appealing progressional quirkiness. Good call.

Of course.  They gave us the "Roxanne Chord" (something like a Cm13 ?).  Not many other chords are named after a band/song.  ("Hendrix", "Hard Day's Night", and not much else).  
 
For unique chords, also a shout out to Squeeze, as "Pulling Mussels from the Shell" has another of those chords that you aren't likely to hear anyplace else.
 
Coldplay's "Clocks" had a rhythm you didn't hear a lot before that song came out.

That dude's got some issues. Same with the guy from Tool but I definitely groove more on Tool weirdness than "Shiny Happy People".
 
I think one of the things I like most about Nirvana lyrics is they are almost completely devoid of politics yet manage to still be edgy/making a social statement in some bizarro way. Very strange little man.